Coop is doing great, but......

Wendy C

Wendy C

Forums Enthusiast
Greetings on this very cold day! We have been working very hard to reduce Cooper’s barking. He has stopped barking at the dishwasher, the roll of foil and the noise the plastic containers make when I take them out of the cupboard. He even has stopped barking when we sneeze....he runs up to me and stares, but hubby gets him on his lap kissing his face! Considering I feed him I find that wrong!! lol

our struggle is the doorbell or knocking on the door. We have tried me sneaking out and ringing or knocking and he will stop, but that’s because hubby has a treat and Coop works hard for food. I wonder if it’s because he was very young when Covid hit and of course other than Amazon (don’t judge lol) no one came to the door? We wouldn’t mind a single bark, but he goes full blown crazy!! Any suggestions for what we can try?
Thanks so much! :)
 
If you find what works, please let me know! Brodie sits and watches his domain out the front picture window. All cars, trucks, people elicit an insane amount of twirling and barking and racing from window to window. If I catch him as he's working himself up, I can often get him to sit and 'watch' (as he pants heavily in excitement) but I only catch him maybe 2% of the time.
 
You have made great progress!

Unfortunately I won't be much help since both my Laddie (Sheltie) and Panda (Pommie)go totally bananas when someone comes to the door...or even has the audacity to walk up our driveway! And this includes family members they know well and love. Laddie stops barking once they come into the house but is still way too excited/pushy and jumpy/mouthy so I put him on lead before I open the door and let anyone in. He calms down after a few minutes and then I let him off lead. Panda is not jumpy or mouthy once I let the person in the house but he will continue to bark...this time for attention. He too quiets down after a few minutes and they both love company. Treats help and a firm NO works sometimes but not always.

Trini
 
I am SO impressed with what you've accomplished!!! Please tell us your secret! Mine all bark at the phone, sneezing, foil, the kettle...really there are too many triggers to name in a single post. And barking at the door, hah! They bark at the UPS/FedEx/Prime/Mail/any truck that looks like one when they see them go by on the road from the window, whether or not they come to the door. The road is at least a football field away. :rolleyes2: Not only do they bark at the door, they bark at the tiny little notification sound our Blink cameras make on our phones to let us know someone is in the drivway. :eek2:

So I'm afraid I can't be any help with the door...I think you should be giving US tips! :yes:
 
That’s great that you’ve managed to desensitize Cooper! I’m afraid I can’t help because Finnie goes crazy when someone is at the door (it’s usually family and he’s just overly excited to see them) and of course Blueberry joins in. The only one who doesn’t bark at the door is Piper, he’s the one dog I did things differently with. Finnie saw how Riley reacted to the door and he copied him.
Now there are so many kitchen related things mine bark at...blinds being raised, electrical appliances and now canned whipping cream and just about anything that needs to be shaken ...salad dressing, (flour and water when making gravy), Lysol spray....
If I had a door bell they’d bark at that too lol
 
Outstanding progress, Cooper!
That is a lot of desensitizing work! No, no Judgment here!!!Good boy!

Having 3 is a challenge!
Since mine are such food hounds, I give the quiet command. I will not even think of going to the door until they are all silent. If they are not, I go back to reinforce the quiet command. Then I go to the door. Usually a Chewy or Amazon delivery. When I come back I lavishly praise them with loads of treats! So, they have trained me to bribe them!!!
It helps that I have them gated off in the kitchen so they can’t see who is at the door. It is not 100% fool proof! Come on, the are Shelties after all!!!
 
After all, a Sheltie is genetically primed to be an alarm dog.
and must make sound and feel compelled to warn you when
someone enters our territory that could cause problems.
But it is so annoying :gaah

A slightly impressive but very, very noisy experience here the other day.:yes:
I was in the shower and the radio was playing very loud,
I heard Minnie barking, thinking it was a sound outside she had heard.

But she persisted for a very long time and very intense,
i got out of the bath and to see what the problem was :confused2:

It was my friend who had entered and as Minnie really love
I say: "I am coming out in a minute"

I close the door again and Minnie keeps barking violently.
Suddenly there was silence and after a while I entered the living room.

My friend had walked around the living room
and found different toys to get Minnie to stop her barking,
but it did not help.
Only when she sat down in the chair did Minnie stop.

Minnie felt she had done her job, as a shepherd dog
she tried to keep my friend calm - until I came back.

Then Minnie could give her the huge welcome
she usually always gets when she visits us.

So a Sheltie´s shepherd's instincts are still so strong.:winkgrin:
 
Hanne said:
After all, a Sheltie is genetically primed to be an alarm dog.
and must make sound and feel compelled to warn you when
someone enters our territory that could cause problems.
But it is so annoying :gaah

A slightly impressive but very, very noisy experience here the other day.:yes:
I was in the shower and the radio was playing very loud,
I heard Minnie barking, thinking it was a sound outside she had heard.

But she persisted for a very long time and very intense,
i got out of the bath and to see what the problem was :confused2:

It was my friend who had entered and as Minnie really love
I say: "I am coming out in a minute"

I close the door again and Minnie keeps barking violently.
Suddenly there was silence and after a while I entered the living room.

My friend had walked around the living room
and found different toys to get Minnie to stop her barking,
but it did not help.
Only when she sat down in the chair did Minnie stop.

Minnie felt she had done her job, as a shepherd dog
she tried to keep my friend calm - until I came back.

Then Minnie could give her the huge welcome
she usually always gets when she visits us.

So a Sheltie´s shepherd's instincts are still so strong.:winkgrin:
Click to expand...
Good girl Minnie...you herded her into a chair :ROFLMAO:!
 
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